1914. 
THE rc.UR.A-L NEW-YORKER 
341 
APPLES FROM A VETERAN TREE. 
By parcel post I am sending you a 
small box of Albemarle Pippins from a 
tree in Nelson County, Virginia, said to 
be 131 years old. It occurred to me that 
you would be interested in seeing and 
perhaps tasting apples from a tree of 
such an age. The apples were grown by 
Mr. W. H. Goodwin, at Avon, Virginia, 
and the tree is located in Nelson County, 
about 15 miles west of the main line of 
the Southern Railway. Mr. Goodwin 
states that there are about five of the 
old trees, all about the same age. They 
had been neglected for a great many 
years. A few years ago he trimmed them 
up and put them in pretty good shape. 
The crop last year on the particular tree 
from which these apples were picked 
amounted to eight barrels. 
You have, of course, seen Albemarle 
Pippins which are much finer than these, 
but they were grown v a trees which had 
been cared for from their infancy, and I 
doubt if your attention has been called 
to apples of good commercial variety and 
character grown on a tree of such age. 
This tree, if reports are correct, is evi¬ 
dently several years older than the fam¬ 
ous Handy tree in Patrick County, and 
and the Winter temperature higher on 
this account. Nothwithstanding the 
water surroundings the air is dry and 
we are favored with many clear sunlit 
days, the sunshine coloring our fruit well, 
as evidenced by the prizes taken at the 
State Fairs. 
Preparation of Ground for planting: 
I find that when the plantings were made 
in ground well cultivated previously, bet¬ 
ter results are obtained, my only poor 
planting being in light sandy soil which 
had been cleared of brush, plowed, har¬ 
rowed and planted at once. Planting 
was done in holes dug about two feet 
square and 16 to IS inches deep, top soil 
used in filling and well firmed by shaking 
and tramping around and on the roots. 
After planting, manure or fertilizer was 
put on to give the tree a start. 
Planting Plan. —The orchard is 
planted on the hexagonal system, each 
tree being equally distant from six other 
trees surrounding it. In planting again 
I would not use this system, but plant 
in squares. In the system I used more 
trees can be planted per acre, but that 
is its only advantage. Cultivation is not 
so easy and when fillers are used, as I 
have done, the advantage is very much 
APPLES FROM A 131-YEAR-OLD TREE. 
also older than the Hall tree in Patrick 
County, which have been written about a 
great deal. The Handy tree is reported 
to have produced 132 bushels of apples 
in one season and the Ilall tree 165 bush- 
sis. I understand that the Hall tree 
grows what may be termed a commercial 
apple; the Handy does not. This old 
Nelson County tree, however, produces 
one of the best selling apples grown in 
the United States. Good Albemarle 
Pippins, at this time in Virginia, are 
bringing from $3 to $5 per fancy box. 
At $3 a box the crop of this old tree in 
11)13 would be valued at $72. In cut 
above is shown a picture of the box from 
which these apples were taken. 
M. O. RICHARDS. 1 
APPLES ON LONG ISLAND. 
Part I. 
Because of the prizes that have been 
awarded my fruit at the New York State 
Fairs of 1012 and 1913, The R. N.-Y. 
has asked me to write my experience 
with and opinion of such apples as I 
grow. 
Description of Orchard. —As now 
planned the orchard consists of 105 acres, 
of which 77 acres are in apples, 15 acres 
in peaches, five acres in pears and eight 
acres in cherries, plums and other fruits 
and nut trees. The apples were planted 
31 acres in 1902, a few of which were 
planted in Fall of 1901. 13 acres in 1903, 
eight acres in 1906 and 25 acres in 1907. 
Soil varies from a good sandy loam to a 
light sandy soil; of the 25 acres planted 
in 1907. 12 acres were on a light sandy 
soil, and have not made a satisfactory 
growth. 
Location.— This is on the eastern end 
of Long Island on the west portion of 
Shelter Island, surrounded by and close 
to salt water with natural woods as 
wind-breaks protecting the orchard trees 
on west, south and east; the prevailing 
wind is southwest. Land is rolling and 
well surface drained. Temperature is' 
influenced considerably by the large 
bodies of water surrounding the orchard; 
the Summer temperature being lower 
in favor of planting in squares. From 
my experience I say plant in squares. 
Distance Apart to Plant. —My 
trees are all planted 17% feet apart. 
When apples are planted apples are used 
as fillers. Mine are too close. I recom¬ 
mend 20 feet apart in squares for this 
section when fillers are used. In two or 
three years I shall have to take out 
three-quarters of my oldest apple trees 
to make room for those left; that is. my 
fillers must come out and come out all at 
once, as my trees are planted in the 
hexagonal system. Now if I had planted 
in squares only one-half of the trees 
would have to be removed then and the 
others taken out several years later after 
getting that many more crops to pay 
for their planting and care. Do not plant 
fillers on the hexagonal system. On the 
square system if fillers are planted and 
trees 20 feet apart, removing every other 
line of fillers (one-half of the trees) the 
trees are left 28 feet three inches apart 
in squares. A few years later the remain¬ 
der of the fillers may be removed and the 
main trees left 40 feet apart in squares. 
When it is intended to grow crops in the 
orchard when the trees are young and 
until they come into bearing, no fillers 
should be planted, as with fillers there 
is no room for crops. 
Low or High Heads to orchard trees; 
Mine are all low heads, Western style, 
branching from IS inches to three feet 
from the ground. Some of mine are too 
low and interfere in cultivating. From 
my experience I would plant now with 
branches from 2% to four feet above the 
ground; that is the lowest branches 
about 2% feet from the ground and the 
highest four feet above the ground. The 
advantages of low-headed trees are 
many; easier sprayed, thinned, picked 
and trimmed, less exposed to wind and 
fewer apples blown off in storms. 
FETER ELBERT NOSTRAND. 
Caller: “But you said you wouldn’t 
charge me anything for the little legal 
question I asked you.” Lawyer: “I 
haven’t. What I’ve charged you for is 
the auswer.”-«-rBoston Transcript. 
FRUIT TREES 
/i847 : CAYUGA NURSERIES : i9i 4 \ 
For Thirty-five Years Under Their Present Management 
II. S. 'WILEY—the man 
vhOKtandx lu llInil Wiley's 
dependable trees 
RpadfW ^® u must k now that healthy trees, true to label 
1VCCIUCI and up to grade specified are the only kind a 
man can deliver and stay long in the nursery business. 
n 1 “I began planting your trees in 1899. To me it is a 
lY 03.(1 rare and remarkable circumstance that your trees 
have always been found true to label, healthy and 
free from disease. From a 10-year-old Wolf River orchard I 
picked this season as high as thirteen bushels from some of 
the trees. I want to make it emphatic that your trees do not 
travel under an assumed name. 
HARRY W. LITTLEFIELD. Waldo Co.. Maine. 
Growth of our business has been such that we 
now have large plantings at Cayuga, Lyons, 
Rochester and Dansville, N. Y. While we give 
every care and detail necessary to the filling of 
small orders, our business is more largely con¬ 
fined to supplying commercial planters, g 
One example of growth. Some thirty years ago we filled an order 
for 300 Baldwin trees for a planter in Kennebec Co., Maine ; we now 
send annually trees in carload lots to that county. 
VALUES _Our free CATALOG will advise you of our values with¬ 
out any extravagant promises. WE HAVE NO FAKE WHOLESALE 
PRICES. Our purpose is not primarily to grow a cheap tree, but the 
best tree that can be grown and placed in the hands of the planter in 
a fresh condition. 
Our stock of FRUIT TREES never was more complete or better 
in any respect. A complete line of fruit trees for the orchard, bush 
plants and roots for the garden and ornamentals for the lawn. 
ENDORSEMENTS _The character of our endorsements are unlike 
many others. Why ? Because they come from 
planters who have been fruiting our trees for a 
quarter of a century more or less. They deal 
with WILEY'S TESTED TREES that have made 
good and are making good all over the country. 
Read the following, and we can multiply this 
many times : 
•• I have been planting trees for twenty-five years and want 
to say that when it conies to grading up fruit trees and labeling 
them correctly. I can depend on you. My trees never disappoint 
me in the variety ordered from you. The last 1.400 peach trees 
planted came into fruiting this past summer and were all true.” 
F. D. GARDNER. Niagara Co.. N. Y. 
PARCEL POST.— A full page of our catalog is 
devoted to parcel post values. 
Our pamphlet on Suggestions, Pruning. Spraying, 
Selection of Varieties for various localities will be 
mailed with catalog on request, 
SEND FOR CATALOG NOW 
H. S. WILEY & SON, Beach St., Cayuga, N. Y. 
10 Extra Quality Baldwin 2-Yr. Trees $1 
Fellemburg Prune 
We want every fruit grower and farmer to become acquainted with our nursery stock 
by sending for and planting these apple trees this spring. The above offer is excep¬ 
tional. It is made possible because we grow these trees ourselves and sell them 
DIRECT TO THE PLANTER WITHOUT PAYING AGENTS' PROFITS. 
Every fall we import inspected French Seedlings that must come up to our standards for straight 
trunks and strong roots. They are stored in our stock cellars until spring, when they are planted. 
Careful cultivation and grubbing makes them grow strong in our soil. About July first these 
seedlings are budded with scions taken from trees of known merit. This important work is under 
the personal supervision and has the entire attention of Mr. Denton, a nurseryman of 25 years" 
experience, who also directs the cultivation through the year and directs the "heading" the 
second spring. This care on our part insures nursery stock that we 
Guarantee True to Name, Free from Diseases or San Jose Scale 
and as sturdy, well-rooted and branched a* trees can be made to grow. 
You take no chances in buying such stock ; you lose surely if you do not take advantage of this special 
offer. Baldwins bring top market prices, keep well, have the color and flavor. You can't make better 
use of a quarter acre, especially if you interplant these 10 Baldwins with some of our Peaches, Plums, 
Pears, Cherries, Quinces or Small Fruits, of which we have over 700,000 to sell this year. 
The 10-for-Sl offer for selected 2-year Baldwins holds good only as long 
as they last. Only 10 to each individual. Send SI at once and trees will 
be held for you. Write for special prices on your list, FREIGHT PAID. 
Send for Free Catalog at once and order early • 
DENTON, WILLIAMS & DENTON, 225 Elm St., Dansville, N.Y. 
Grand New Year Book 
Ml4—just printed: shows fruits in actual colors and size. Full of valuable 
orchard information. Tells what, when and how to plant. Mailed Free. 
QTADlf nci iriAl TC The Most Amazing Apple 
O 1 IjI L/J Production in Two Centuries 
(Trade Mark) 
is fully described—its glorious record of twenty years in the American orchard is accu¬ 
rately given. No one with room for a single tree can afford to be without this marvelous 
fruit. Of exquisite flavor—large, brilliant, waxy red. The book is free . Write for it. 
Stark Bros. Nurseries and Orchards Co., • Box i23» Louisiana, Mo. 
Special Rose-Bush Offer 
To readers of The Rural New- Yorker who love beautiful roses, we 
offer to send 10 CHOICE EVERBLOOM1NG ROSE¬ 
BUSHES. POSTPAID, FOR $1.00 
These 10 bushes are each a different variety selected to combine in a 
bed the most charming colors and fragrance. They are strong and 
vigorous, grown on their own roots and especially adapted to the soils 
and climates of America. Kvery Conard & Jones rosebush is 
guaranteed to grow and bloom, You run no risk when 
dealing with us. Send a dollar bill today at our risk for these 10 
fine rosebushes and have pleutv of roses in your garden next season. 
WRITE FOR FREE 1914 ROSE GUIDE 
Contains The Rose Lovers’ Calendar of Operations. Tells how and 
where to grow roses, how to plant, cultivate, prune, etc. Lists 3BU varie¬ 
ties of the choicest roses for America. Send today for this free book. 
Rose Specialists. Over 50 Years of Experience 
THE CONARD & JONES CO., Box 4, West Grove, Pa. 
When you write advertisers mention The R. N.-Y. and you’ll get a quick reply 
and a “square deal.” See guarantee editorial page. 
